Ducks fans line the "blue carpet" to greet the players before Friday's home opener at Honda Center. TEXT AND PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – Their 50-goal scorer still hasn't scored and neither has their 637-goal scorer.

The Ducks gave up four goals in their first game, one more than they have scored all season.

Right now, George Parros, the team's enforcer, has more points than the Ducks' top two lines combined.

And yet, they're 2-1-0 and just beat tough Western Conference rival San Jose in a thunderous Honda Center opener.

Surprising?

Well, even Coach Randy Carlyle, who preaches defensive hockey, isn't sure this is such a pleasant trend.

"You have to play defense to win in sports," he said after this 1-0 victory. "It's not just offense. But you do have to be able to provide offense. What's particularly concerning for us (is) that we're not getting enough offense."

Parros played just three shifts in the first period, was on the ice for less than a minute total. No one on either team played less in the first 20 minutes.

Still, it was his well conceived and even better executed pass that set up Maxime Macenauer's goal, the first of the young center's career.

Macenauer also became the first Duck to score multiple points for this season. This is notable for a variety of reasons:

1) He's a rookie.

2) He's centering the team's fourth line.

3) He isn't Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf.

4) He isn't Teemu Selanne or Bobby Ryan.

5) He is Maxime Macenauer.

At age 22, Macenauer isn't in position to think in terms any longer than three periods at a time. He has been in the NHL for only three games and understands nothing beyond a fourth game is guaranteed him today.

"It's always day-to-day to me in my mind," he said. "I'm living in the present all the time. I'm not thinking about tomorrow. I'm not thinking about yesterday."

All the Ducks are thinking in the present, because the present is so darn perplexing, consecutive victories or not.

The Ducks have what is often called arguably the NHL's best line. Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan also make up what is arguably the league's most frustrated line at the moment.

Actually, there might not be any arguing that point.

Midway through the second period Friday, Getzlaf hit the post. A few minutes later, after a great pass from Perry and a brilliant move to clear a path to the net, Getzlaf hit the post a second time.

"Our big guys aren't scoring..." said Carlyle, who then praised the goaltending of Jonas Hiller and the overall defense of everyone else.

This hasn't been just a slow start for the No. 1 line. It has been a no start, the Ducks' top threesome scoreless for the season's first nine periods.

"I don't know if you can play 82 games that way, but it's nice to be able to rely on that early in the season," Carlyle said. "We're going to have to find ways to create more offense...but, hey, we're not going to critique a win."

The sellout didn't seem to mind. The crowd arrived early, stayed late and made noise throughout.

More than four hours before the puck dropped Friday, they began lining up, Ducks fans eager to greet the old players and the new season. Wait, did we say eager? No, these folks weren't eager; they were desperate.

Four hours before game time? At that point, even the puck was still at home.

As has become tradition for the Honda Center opener, the players entered the arena like celebrities parading for the paparazzi, Academy Awards style. They walked along the carpet — blue, in this case — signing autographs and posing for pictures. In short, being famous.

"Last year, I was up on this stage and my heart was really pounding," second-year defenseman Cam Fowler told the crowd. "I didn't really know what I was talking about. I was just thinking about playing hockey. It's amazing what one year in the league can do."

Fowler is still only 19, the second-youngest player on the team. The fact he's a relative veteran speaks to his and the Ducks' potential.

On Friday, Fowler was talking to some serious fans here, fans who arrived wearing Brad May jerseys or with their faces painted or with their toe nails colored Duck-orange.

We'll say this much for those who push to be near this team: The Ducks can't match some, like, say, the Lakers, in fan volume, but in fan passion, this franchise is well represented.

"It's a great homecoming for us," Getzlaf told the fans. "Thanks. Now let's play."

Getzlaf was asked about his relationship with Perry and if, with Perry returning as the NHL's reigning MVP, he expects to see the puck much this season.

"The relationship is good," Getzlaf said. "I haven't seen the puck in seven years. He's the shooter. You don't score 50 goals by passing."

Fifty goals? Today, the Ducks would take one from their top two lines. Just one, scored by pretty much anyone.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.